Felon arrested in theft of handgun from a residence

CENTRAL POINT — A Central Point man with past felony convictions was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing a handgun from a White City home, police said.

By RYAN PFEIL

CENTRAL POINT — A Central Point man with past felony convictions was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing a handgun from a White City home, police said.

Andrew James Caucutt, 24, allegedly swiped the weapon, a .40-caliber Springfield Armory XDM semi-automatic, during an Oct. 31 burglary in the 2600 block of Terr-mont Street. Police found the gun, loaded and within reach of Caucutt's 5-year-old child, under a couch cushion at his home, police said.

Caucutt was being held in the Jackson County Jail without bail on a probation violation and on charges of reckless endangerment, first-degree theft and being felon in possession of a firearm, jail records show.

Medford police contacted Caucutt at about 3 p.m. Wednesday after employees of The Black Bird Shopping Center, 1810 W. Main St., reported Caucutt and another individual loitering in the parking lot. After talking to them, employees said they believed the pair were planning to steal from the store.

"(They) believe they were attempting to steal ammunition as well as a holster," said Lt. Mike Budreau, adding that no theft occurred at the store.

Police arrived on scene and, after finding evidence in Caucutt's vehicle that he possessed a gun, obtained a warrant to search his home in the 200 block of Wilson Road, Central Point. Budreau declined to release specifics on the evidence police saw in the vehicle.

Police searched Caucutt's home, found the weapon and arrested him. The 5-year-old boy is under the care of his mother.

Court records show Caucutt was convicted in December 2012 of unlawful use of a weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The convictions stem from a drive-by shooting in November in which he fired a shot through a Central Point home on Truax Road before speeding away in a BMW. Caucutt turned himself in to police three days later.

Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or by email at rpfeil@mailtribune.com.